Sensory Shape Patterns

This is an activity that I got from one of my education classes. I bought a box of snack size (dollar store brand) Ziploc baggies <--- they have to have a zipper on it. I also got some hair gel from the dollar store and foam paper from Hobby Lobby.

Then I made basic shapes on plain white paper, to use as a stencil. You can use any shapes, letters, or anything else you can think of.

Then I cut out the shapes on the foam paper, two sheets at a time. This was very time consuming and not something I would have done while kids were awake. When I was at hobby lobby I looked for pre-cut shapes (foam paper) but I could only find stickers. Since I had never used stickers I didn't get them but I am seriously considering trying it next time.
This was just a trial run, so I made my own pattern. Since my daughter is only 2 1/2 years old we will be doing basic patterns at first. For older kids (4 and up) you can use abbabb or abbcabbc patterns and so on. They can also be color patterns, there are numerous ways to switch up this activity.
I also stored the extra shapes in some of the baggies and separated them by color.
I had to carefully put the pieces in the bag in the correct pattern order. It was a little more difficult with the dollar store brand bags because they are thinner and sticks to itself more than the Ziploc brand bags. So you would have to help smaller children with this part.
Then I squirted the hair gel above the pattern, inside the baggie across the whole length of the bag. I repeated this a couple of times to get a good amount in there (but it does not look like I used any by looking at the bottle).
Then I closed up the baggie and smooshed all the gel down to the bottom of the bag.
It gives it a really squishy and fun feel to the shapes.
It also allows the shapes to be moved around easily to create new patters out of the same shapes or for the little ones to just play with and move everything around. The patterns can be sent home with students, if done in a classroom, so they can share with their family or your child can have a keep sake. I do suggest taping, gluing, or stapling the top of the baggie closed and picking them up when your not around to avoid a mess.

I can't wait to do this with my daughter, I wanted an example to show her while explaining it. I am cutting out several different colored sheets of the same shapes, so she can make a bunch of them.

This activity covers:

-Shapes

-Colors

-Patterns (Math)

-Sensory Play

-Movement of objects/Friction (Science)

It's a fun, engaging, multi-concept, educational activity for several different ages.

Let me know what you think.

Bird Nest Necklace s

Last summer (2011), I had a very inspiring professor that changed my life in more ways than one. I will always be grateful for her lasting impact and wanted to get her or make her something to show my appreciation. One day I was on Pintrest and came across this DIY Bird Nest Necklace with tutorials from http://www.sarahortega.com/2011/05/diy-bird-nest-necklace.html, this was perfect because my professor had talked several times about her passion for bird nests. So I bought the supplies and did it!

(Sorry about the quality of the photos but for now I am using my cell phone camera.)

Here's what I got: glass beads, 24 gauge jewelry wire, necklace, jump rings, and a clasp.

First I picked out what beads I wanted to use for the eggs.

After choosing the three beads I thought would be best for her, I put them on the end of the wire and started wrapping! I pulled it tight and wrapped the end of the wire around the beads and onto the other part of the wire (on the other side of the first bead). Then I started wrapping the wire around the three beads, over and over. This was a little challenging because it kept wanting to pop off and cover the beads.

So I started holding it a different way and this made it a little easier, in the sense that the wire was wrapping around in the same area and getting thicker instead of trying to spread out.

I thought I was going to get a cramp in my hand from holding so tightly, but I pushed through the pain! :) After I got the desired thickness, I started looping the wire in the middle and did this in 3 different spots. I had to go back and undo some because I had pulled it too tight and it made the nest look too neat for my liking.

Somehow I looped the wire through the wires on the back of the nest and made a loop for it to hang off the necklace. Then I just wrapped and stuffed the end of the wire so that it couldn't be seen nor could it come lose.

Here's what I ended up with! I am really happy with it and can't wait to give it to her!!

Here is a picture of the madness on the back of the nest. There might have been a easier and neater way, but this worked for me and I don't think it was too bad for my first attempt. I even have enough supplies left over to make one or two more!

Here is my "up close" shot, the best I can do with my cellphone camera. So what do you think???

And It Begins!

I went to Hobby Lobby today and got to spend about 2 hours walking up and down all the aisles since I was kid-free. I went with a list of supplies that I needed for about 6 projects I want to do and got just about everything on my list and then some. Good thing is that I will definitely have supplies left over for other unplanned projects. Here is a preview of all the materials I got today.

Most of them will be for these color bags that I am doing for Sky (I will explain more later). I already completed one project and I am really excited about it!